prosecutors say they're sorry, but they say the law is the law and they have to stick to it in this case. gretchen? >> gretchen: all right. thanks so much. it has been nine months since the young children of the american pastor held in iran have seen their father and the impact on the family is heart breaking. fox news radio's todd starnes is here with me now with more on this story. you talked to his wife, right? >> that's right. she and her husband have two children, rebecca and jacob. we had a chance to hear her story down in nashville. here is what she told us. american pastor is a prisoner of iran, sentenced to eight years in one of the country's most notorious prisons, all because of his christian faith. >> he's been there five months. beaten, tortured, suffering, internal bleeding, suffering medical issues and i would expect our government to take every action to want him released now. >> in 2009, three american hikers were captured by the iranians. both president obama and the secretary of state called for their immediate release. but in this case, the white house has been unusua